A Lake County councilman faces two felony charges in connection with a domestic violence incident.

Forty-two-year-old Jamal Washington of Merrillville is charged with strangulation and domestic battery. He's accused of hitting and choking his wife, and hitting a woman who lives with and works for him last Thursday at his home.

Court records show the Lake County prosecutor's office filed a petition Monday to appoint a special prosecutor to take over the case. Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter told The (Munster) Timesthat the County Council makes decisions about his office's budget and function, so it would be best to use an independent prosecutor who doesn't have ties to Washington.